When it comes to constructing civil or sports construction projects, making the process as easy and concise as possible will alleviate most future challenges. The choice between these methods can significantly impact project efficiency, cost, and quality. This article will cover the difference in the processes of ‘Design-Bid-Build’ and ‘Design-Build’ and how McConnell & Associates can complete your project with as little hassle as possible through Design-Build.
Understanding these Two Approaches
Design-Bid-Build (DBB)
Traditionally, public projects have followed the Design-Bid-Build method. This process involves three distinct phases:
- Design: The Project owners hire an architect, design, or engineering firm to design the facility and prepare construction documents.
- Bid: The project then enters a public bid, with the lowest bidder typically winning the contract. Some Contractors will submit minimum requirement bids based on the provided design. This means that if there is a mistake in the provided design, they will bid, knowing they can issue a change order once they win the bid and increase the price.
- Build: The winning contractor constructs the facility according to these predetermined plans
While this method ensures transparency and competitive pricing, it comes with drawbacks. The separation between the design team and the construction company can lead to miscommunication, design flaws that become apparent during construction, and costly change orders. Delays and budget overruns are common challenges in DBB projects.
Design-Build (DB)
The Design-Build (DB) method streamlines the process, combining design and construction into one contract. Instead of hiring separate design and construction firms, the project owner would only work with McConnell & Associates, who would be responsible for both phases. This approach offers several advantages:
- Improved Communication: With designers and the construction company collaborating from the beginning of the process, potential construction issues can be identified early and resolved before construction even begins. The full cost of the project is transparent from the beginning as well, leaving way less to chance than in the DBB process.
- Faster projection completion: Overlapping design and construction phases reduce the overall project timeline.
- Cost savings: With overall fewer change orders and reduced administrative costs, Design-Build projects are far more budget friendly.
- Accountability: A single point of responsibility for the project owner minimizes conflicts between designers and the contractor, ensuring a smoother workflow.
Why Skipping the Bid Process Makes Sense
School districts and municipalities can eliminate common hassles associated with the bidding process by choosing the Design-Build method with a trusted partner for 60 years like McConnell & Associates (MAC). Delivering a more precise vision from day one with MAC leading both design and construction, miscommunications are minimized, and projects will align more closely with the project owner’s exact needs. With proven expertise in sports facilities, including tennis courts, pickleball courts, and running tracks, we will ensure you are left with a high-quality sports facility to enjoy for many years to come!
For School Districts and Municipalities looking to develop state-of-the-art facilities without the headache, reach out to McConnell & Associates and ask about our Purchase Methods to get your projects underway. You can call our main office line at (816) 842-6066 or visit us online at mcconnellassociates.org. If you want information on TIPS and Cooperative purchasing, check out our vendor profile on the TIPS website
